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Selected Verse: Psalms 59:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 59:3	Strong Concordance	For, lo, they lie in wait [0693] for my soul [05315]: the mighty [05794] are gathered [01481] against me; not for my transgression [06588], nor for my sin [02403], O LORD [03068].
	King James	For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul - They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Jdg 9:32; Jdg 21:20; Psa 10:9. The word "soul" here means "life." They lie in ambush that they may kill me. The mighty are gathered against me - Strong men; hostile men; cruel men. Saul would employ on this occasion not the weak, the cowardly, the faint-hearted, but men of courage and strength; men who were unscrupulous in their character; men who would not be likely to be moved by entreaty, or turned from their purpose by compassion. It is not mere "strength" that is here referred to, but that kind of strength or courage which can be employed in a desperate enterprise, and which is suited to accomplish any scheme of wickedness, however daring or difficult. Not for my transgression, nor for my sin - This is done not on account of my violating the laws of the land, nor because it is alleged that I am a sinner against God. David was conscious that he did not deserve this treatment from the hand of man. He bad been guilty of no wrong against Saul that exposed him to just punishment. He carried with him the consciousness of innocence as to any crime that could have made this treatment proper; and he felt that it was all the result of unjust suspicions. It was not improper for him to refer to this in his prayer; for, however he might feel that he was a sinner in the sight of God, yet he felt that a great and grievous wrong was done him by man; and he prayed, therefore, that a righteous God would interpose. See Psa 7:8, note; Psa 17:2, note; Psa 35:24, note; Psa 43:1, note.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul - They lie in wait as wild beasts do for their prey, ready to spring upon it. The word used here is often employed to denote the act of lying in ambush; of watching in secret places to spring upon a victim: Jdg 9:32; Jdg 21:20; Psa 10:9. The word "soul" here means "life." They lie in ambush that they may kill me.

The mighty are gathered against me - Strong men; hostile men; cruel men. Saul would employ on this occasion not the weak, the cowardly, the faint-hearted, but men of courage and strength; men who were unscrupulous in their character; men who would not be likely to be moved by entreaty, or turned from their purpose by compassion. It is not mere "strength" that is here referred to, but that kind of strength or courage which can be employed in a desperate enterprise, and which is suited to accomplish any scheme of wickedness, however daring or difficult.

Not for my transgression, nor for my sin - This is done not on account of my violating the laws of the land, nor because it is alleged that I am a sinner against God. David was conscious that he did not deserve this treatment from the hand of man. He bad been guilty of no wrong against Saul that exposed him to just punishment. He carried with him the consciousness of innocence as to any crime that could have made this treatment proper; and he felt that it was all the result of unjust suspicions. It was not improper for him to refer to this in his prayer; for, however he might feel that he was a sinner in the sight of God, yet he felt that a great and grievous wrong was done him by man; and he prayed, therefore, that a righteous God would interpose. See Psa 7:8, note; Psa 17:2, note; Psa 35:24, note; Psa 43:1, note.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul - For my life. See the passages referred to above.

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¹ Judge [08199] me, O God [0430], and plead [07378] my cause [07379] against an ungodly [03808] [02623] nation [01471]: O deliver [06403] me from the deceitful [04820] and unjust [05766] man [0376].

²⁴ Judge [08199] me, O LORD [03068] my God [0430], according to thy righteousness [06664]; and let them not rejoice [08055] over me.

² Let my sentence [04941] come forth [03318] from thy presence [06440]; let thine eyes [05869] behold [02372] the things that are equal [04339].

⁸ The LORD [03068] shall judge [01777] the people [05971]: judge [08199] me, O LORD [03068], according to my righteousness [06664], and according to mine integrity [08537] that is in me.

⁹ He lieth in wait [0693] secretly [04565] as a lion [0738] in his den [05520]: he lieth in wait [0693] to catch [02414] the poor [06041]: he doth catch [02414] the poor [06041], when he draweth [04900] him into his net [07568].

²⁰ Therefore they commanded [06680] the children [01121] of Benjamin [01144], saying [0559], Go [03212] and lie in wait [0693] in the vineyards [03754];

³² Now therefore up [06965] by night [03915], thou and the people [05971] that is with thee, and lie in wait [0693] in the field [07704]: